Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1887-01-07
THE COCAINE B

The following is part of atecomrnunl-
cation to the Chicago Tribune by DIR. D.
Ungers of that city: In my oplnion,
nothing could be more unfortunately
than the published cocaine experiences
of DR.. Hammond of New York, experien-
ces entirely too brief for any man of
Judgment to base an opinion upon,
Human nature is weak and prone to
experiment-prone to seek e~xcitsraent
from Htimulants. There are so many
ups and downs in life, 80 many disap.
p0intments that induce q sinking OF the
emotional brain centres, thereby brSna-
ing about a condition of loWneEsa .0a
spirits, that man naturally seeks that
which will lift him from gloom to gay
ETY.. DIR. Hammond's article will prove
O beacon-light to many, but IL will not
guide them to o harbor Of rest and safe
.ty. On the contrary, it will play THE
part OF the Ignis-fatnus and lead those
who follow its beams into the cave of
despair.
There are very many men and women
who, knowing the horrors brought ON
by alcoholic Indulgence. abstain from
all intoxicants. 1t was this GLASS who
flew to chleral, to ether, to opium, and
to morphine. What IS left of the lot
will now seek sciase in cocaine, because
the great DIR. Hammond of New York
has publicly asserted that no such Q
thing as a cocaine habit exists or can
be cultivated! What an error for such
q man to commit. Caesar paused before
he crossed the Rubicon, wondering
What posterity would think of his course.
DIR. H., however, is not Caesar. Cocaine,
used Of a stimulant, is one of the vflest
of all vile drugs; and right here in Chi
cage, as readers Of The Tribune will
remember, we have had several sad
evidences of its dreadful power. 4 Two
painful cases have been referred to in
your columns. One of these cases was
that of a popular north side physician,
whose insane actions in injecting the
foul drug not only into his own but into
the systems of his wife and ehIi1renH
created considerable comment in
! ie neighborhood where he
resided. Experiments with CO.
came completely wrecked him, physical
ly.and mentally, SO much 30 that l. be-
lleve he was placed IN the Washington
ian Home for treatment. but with what,
result / do not know. Another instance
Of a d~ep1orable character was that OF an
Indiana physician who was here withEa
WOuuD- uON u0 C1ush9Cu ON Lao oACsCA"s
and who also was q slave to ~theScocaine
nabit. They occupied the same room in
q boarding-house On the West Side. and
both were amusing themselves at the
time the officers were called in by tear
ing their own garments into strips and
also the coverings of the bed they joint
~ occupied. This detachable pair of
"cocainists" got away from the city, but,
I afterwards read in one of our daily pa
pers that they were found arnusinRthsna-
selves in a similar way at Q hotel in some
small town in Pennsylvania or Ohio.
Despite the assertion OF DR.. Ham
mond that the taking Of cocaine does pot
become 4 habit, allow me to say thesIE
have treated three confirmed csses
of cocaine infatuation (let MS lczii il that
within She last eiRhteesD months--fwo;
ladies and one gentleman. They hsd'
all become victims through the use Of
swim cocaine, "a French preparation sold
in all drug stores. which hsd been